Globalization – Empire Building

Global Challenges

• Developed by
• Joe Naumann

• Whither Gaia?

Globalization – Empire Building

• Ancient times
• Alexander the Great
• Rome
• Middlel Ages
• Mongol
• 18th-19th Centuries
• British Empire
• 20th Century
• Hitler (failed)
• Soviet Union (failed)

British Empire Was The Biggest

• Based on naval power
• Developed along with the growth of industry
• Markets
• Raw materials
• Protection of sea lanes
• “The sun never sets on the British Empire”
• Legacy
• English most widely spoken language
• Democratic ideals

British Empire & Others

19th Century Empire Dissolution

• Spanish and Portuguese (Americas)
• Causes
• Primary causative event – Napoleon’s conquest of Spain & Portugal
• Dissatisfied creoles (Spanish)
• Encouraged by the successful revolution in the United States in North America
• Encouraged by political philosophies expressed by Enlightenment writers
• Encouraged by the French Revolution

20th Century Empire Dissolution

• British, French, German, Italian, Belgian, Dutch
• Primary causative factors: World Wars I & II
• Improved communications
• Educated elites in the colonies took leadership roles
• Self-determination of peoples encouraged by United Nations charter
• Costs increasing for economically burdened European countries
• Retaining by force no longer feasible

Return of Hong Kong to China

• Last major part of the former British Empire returned in 1997